(The Center Square) – Virginia officials are encouraging residents to prepare now for hurricane season, warning that even a year expected to bring fewer storms than recent seasons can still create serious flooding, tornadoes and power outages.
Hurricane season began Monday and runs through Nov. 30.
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger joined emergency management and public safety officials Wednesday at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center for hurricane preparedness briefings and a tabletop emergency response exercise ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.
Federal forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are projecting up to 14 named storms this season, including as many as six hurricanes, below the activity levels seen in recent years.
But Virginia officials stressed that storms do not need to make direct landfall in the Commonwealth to create dangerous conditions, especially from inland flooding, tornadoes and extended power outages.
“Severe weather can impact every community across our Commonwealth,” Spanberger said in a statement.
Virginia officials are still accepting applications through July 1 for the Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and timber owners across 27 localities impacted by Hurricane Helene, including 21 counties and six independent cities.
Officials encouraged Virginians to assemble emergency kits with at least three days of food, water, medications, batteries and flashlights, review evacuation routes and store important records in waterproof containers or secure digital storage.
Officials also encouraged residents to check generators and backup power equipment before storms arrive. National Flood Insurance Program guidance notes flood insurance policies typically carry a 30-day waiting period before becoming effective.
Lauren Opett, acting state coordinator of emergency management, said residents should prepare before storms begin appearing in forecast tracks.
“The best time to gather supplies, review evacuation plans, and discuss emergency procedures with your household is now,” Opett said.
